“Our love feels like it was written in the stars. So romantic, so authentic, so raw,” the couple exclusively tells PEOPLE

90 Day Fiancé‘s Chantel Everett is engaged!

The reality TV star’s girlfriend, Ashley Bowen, proposed on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at Uhuburg, a Renaissance castle in Helen, Ga.

Under the impression that their outing was for a photo and video shoot, Chantel was shocked when Ashley suddenly dropped down on one knee and popped the question. The music artist not only presented Chantel with a sparkling ring, but also a surprise original song entitled “Duet for Juliet.”

“Our love feels like it was written in the stars. So romantic, so authentic, so raw,” the couple exclusively tells PEOPLE. “We love that about ourselves. We love that about our love story.”

Chantel, who is best known for her appearances on 90 Day Fiancé and its various spinoffs, officially came out about her sexuality during the Aug. 18 episode of 90 Day: Hunt for Love.

During the tell-all episode, the TLC star admitted that she was ready to explore her connection with her friend after they shared a kiss, saying, “So before coming here, a friend of mine who is also a woman, reached out to me and actually told me that they had feelings for me.”

“And since being here and dating everybody and experiencing everyone, I realized that I really care for her,” she continued. “So I’ve decided that I want to explore that relationship a little further.”

On an earlier episode of 90 Day: Hunt for Love, Chantel opened up about her first kiss with Ashley that changed everything.

“Right before I came to the resort, something did happen with one of my friends,” she revealed. “I was hanging out with my friend, Ashley, and we were drinking wine and she explains to me that she has feelings for me that are actually romantic. Well, one thing led to another, and Ashley kisses me. I almost fainted, I was so shocked, and I really liked it.”

“It felt like my first kiss ever,” she recalled. “But at the same time, I was so overwhelmed at what it all meant because I have not ever thought about dating a woman. What would that mean? What would that mean for me, my dating life, and my sexuality? Does this mean that I’m a lesbian? Just like that? I don’t know.”

Speaking to Swooon in an interview published on Sept. 1, Chantel revealed that Ashley was friends with her brothers first before connecting with the entire family.

“I met Ashley through River and partying, basically. I met her through River at one of his birthday parties, and we got really close after that, and she just became a really good friend of mine,” Chantel said. “I remember asking one of my friends one time, I was just wondering like, ‘Do you think Ashley likes me?’ And they’re like, ‘Oh no, no, she doesn’t like you. She’s just being a really good friend.’ But hindsight’s 20/20. She had romantic feelings for me.”

Even though Chantel and Ashley instantly “hit it off,” it took some time before their friendship turned romantic because Chantel was figuring out her sexuality. Now, they’re inseparable.

“I feel like what we have built is very healthy,” Chantel told the outlet. “So it feels good to be in a committed relationship with somebody who I feel safe with.”

Chantel was previously married to Pedro Jimeno before the pair split in 2022. The former couple’s relationship was documented for five seasons of The Family Chantel.